Blacktharne
Member
I'm looking to purchase a notebook...
I would use it primarily for school/research related purposes...I need a large hard drive as I'll have lots of jpeg and mpeg files and I'll often run multiple programs (real-time waveform software, image analysis software, excel, and possibly a 3D image rendering program of some sort). I'd like it to be relatively portable/lightweight...14" or 15" screen, nothing bigger than that.
It would also be nice if it had some gaming capability (I'm thinking in terms of an mmorpg), but from what I gather, the integrated video cards don't really cut it, and most systems that have an ATI or GeForce card are more than I'm willing to spend.
BTW, I'm looking to spend between $800-$1200.
Is there a big difference in stepping up to a dual-core processor?
Here are the specs on a couple of customized models from dell...also, feel free to suggest other brands or options that I might consider (I've looked at compaq, hp, acer, and sager, but comprable models seem to be significantly pricier compared to Dell)...
XPS M140
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 (1.73GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
14.1 inch WXGA TrueLife? LCD Panel
1GB Shared DDR2 SDRAM 2 Dimms
Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900
100GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
Internal 56K Modem and Integrated Network Card
8xCD/DVD burner(DVD+/-RW)w/dble-layer DVD+R write capability
Intel® PRO 2200 and Dell 350 Bluetooth Internal Wireless Cards
9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (80 WHr)
Dell Nylon Carrying Case
1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr HW Warranty Support
TOTAL:$1,201.00
Inspiron E1505
Intel® Core? Duo processor T2300 (2MB Cache/1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife?
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
100GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card (54Mbps)
53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr HW Warranty Support
Kensington Saddlebag Pro (Backpack & Messenger)
TOTAL: $1,073 ($50 for the carrying case; as best as I could tell, one wasn't included as it was with the M140)
Thanks in advance for the feedback.
I would use it primarily for school/research related purposes...I need a large hard drive as I'll have lots of jpeg and mpeg files and I'll often run multiple programs (real-time waveform software, image analysis software, excel, and possibly a 3D image rendering program of some sort). I'd like it to be relatively portable/lightweight...14" or 15" screen, nothing bigger than that.
It would also be nice if it had some gaming capability (I'm thinking in terms of an mmorpg), but from what I gather, the integrated video cards don't really cut it, and most systems that have an ATI or GeForce card are more than I'm willing to spend.
BTW, I'm looking to spend between $800-$1200.
Is there a big difference in stepping up to a dual-core processor?
Here are the specs on a couple of customized models from dell...also, feel free to suggest other brands or options that I might consider (I've looked at compaq, hp, acer, and sager, but comprable models seem to be significantly pricier compared to Dell)...
XPS M140
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 (1.73GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
14.1 inch WXGA TrueLife? LCD Panel
1GB Shared DDR2 SDRAM 2 Dimms
Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900
100GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
Internal 56K Modem and Integrated Network Card
8xCD/DVD burner(DVD+/-RW)w/dble-layer DVD+R write capability
Intel® PRO 2200 and Dell 350 Bluetooth Internal Wireless Cards
9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (80 WHr)
Dell Nylon Carrying Case
1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr HW Warranty Support
TOTAL:$1,201.00
Inspiron E1505
Intel® Core? Duo processor T2300 (2MB Cache/1.66GHz/667MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife?
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
100GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card (54Mbps)
53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr HW Warranty Support
Kensington Saddlebag Pro (Backpack & Messenger)
TOTAL: $1,073 ($50 for the carrying case; as best as I could tell, one wasn't included as it was with the M140)
Thanks in advance for the feedback.
